In Italian, the word “amara” means “bitter.” In the Igbo language, which is spoken in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, the name means “grace.” And in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, Amara means “deathless” or “immortal.”
How Popular Is the Name Amara?
Though the name Amara has long been used in Asia and Africa, it has only been popular in the United States for about 20 years. It first appeared among the top 1,000 girl names in the U.S. in 2000, when it was ranked at No. 797. Since then, it has climbed significantly, breaking into the top 500 in 2015. The 2020 statistics ranked Amara at No. 142 for girls in America, suggesting it is still on the rise. In the U.S., the name Amara is typically used as a girl name. Nevertheless, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex does not have to be a part of your name selection process.
Similar Names
More girl names starting with A:
AaliyahAddisonAlessandraAlmaAmberAmeliaArethaAriaAriannaArissaAubreyAuroraAva
More boy names starting with A:
AaronAbrahamAdamAdrianAidenAlexanderAndrewAnthonyArcherArloArthurAsherAustin
More names with Igbo roots:
AmakaChikaEbubeEmeIfeKaimaKamsiKasieLotannaRidaSochiSommaZiora
More names with Sanskrit roots:
AntaraBhavikaChandrikaDevikaEniEshaIditriKavyaLakshanyaMihiraNavyaSamihaTarini
Suggested Sibling Names
AdaAnikaCleopatraFreyaKenyaIshaniMakenaNiaOlaRiyaSairaTaraZendaya
Famous People Named Amara
The name Amara has only been commonly used in the United States in the past 20 years. In other cultures, however, it has been used for centuries. Men:
Amara-siṃha, ancient Indian grammarian and poetAmara Bangoura, Guinean diplomat and the current Ambassador of Guinea to RussiaAmara Karba Bangoura, Guinean footballer (soccer)Amara Darboh, an American football player who has played for the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina PanthersAmara Essy, Ivorian diplomat who served as Chairman of the Commission of the African UnionAmara Konaté, Ivorian footballerAmara M. Konneh, Liberian economist and development expert who serves as Senior Advisor on Partnerships and Regional Integration for the World BankAmara Traoré, Senegalese former professional footballer
Women:
Tuwuh Adijatitesih Amaranggana, known professionally as Amara, Indonesian actress, model, and singerAmara Asavananda, Thai actress and model known for her role in the 1967 film “Kon Nuer Kon”Amara Karan, a British actress known for her role in the film “The Darjeeling Limited”Amara La Negra, Afro-Latina singer and actress known for appearing on the reality TV program “Love & Hip Hop”Amara Miller, an American actress known for her role in the film “The Descendants”Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, Sri Lankan politician who served as governor of the North-Western ProvinceAmara Sohn-Walker, American journalist and news anchor who was a host of CNN International’s “CNN Today”Amara Tabor-Smith, American choreographer and performer known for her work celebrating African American and women’s history
Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names 50 Indian Baby Names and Meanings 50 Popular African Baby Names
